Farm vehicle safety

Vehicles play a vital role in farm work, so it may not be surprising that vehicle incidents are the leading cause of death and serious injury on British Farms.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) statistics identify that, in the past five years, the average fatal incident rate in agriculture is 21 times higher than the average across all other industries. 30% of all fatalities on farms have involved moving vehicles, with 48 people losing their lives and hundreds more sustaining injuries.

To raise awareness, reduce injuries and save lives, the HSE has launched its farm vehicle safety campaign, Work Right Agriculture. The initiative calls for those involved in the farming industry to work together to do what they can, during their daily farming activities, to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities involving vehicles. The campaign focuses on three key areas:

Operate a safe farm – Keep people and vehicles apart:

• Segregate vehicles and people with clearly marked routes and walkways.
• Use barriers and posts in high-traffic areas.
• Use signage, good lighting and high-visibility clothing.

Maintain a safe vehicle – Detect faults now, before it’s too late:

• Regularly check and maintain brakes. Trailers must have brakes designed for the maximum loads and speeds at which they will operate.
• Ensure a seatbelt is fitted and worn in every vehicle.
• For vehicles which have doors fitted as standard, make sure the doors are attached securely and remain closed when the vehicle is moving.
• For vehicles that have mirrors fitted as standard, double check they are fitted securely and are clean to ensure optimum visibility.

Be a safe driver – Pause, take a moment to be a safe driver:

• Use the handbrake every time. To prevent serious injury if your vehicle moves due to the terrain or gradient, follow the simple ‘safe stop’ routine before you get out or off a vehicle: handbrake on, gears in neutral, engine switched off and the key removed.
• Ensure every driver undertakes training.
• Think ‘visibility’ to protect everyone on the farm, whatever the vehicle - ensure mirrors and windows on the vehicle are clean and when manoeuvring, take a moment to consider where the blind spots are. Get people to stand where you can see them.

It is clear that the HSE are seeking to encourage a culture change within the farming industry. Improving vehicle farm safety is not difficult or expensive but is essential in ensuring a safer working environment and preventing further loss of life.

For help and advice on any of the issues raised in this article, please contact Rebecca Utton, Julie Gowland or another member of our Health and Safety Team.